Room Escape Artist

There were less than three minutes left in Mission Escape Game’s Nemesis when we unlocked a cabinet that revealed a jewelry box labeled “For Lisa”.

I knew it couldn’t be a ring; David isn’t that predictable…

But there wasn’t any time to think about that box, or even open it. We had to restore power to the space station to stop it from crashing into Earth! And that’s exactly what we did.

The game ended. In my jewelry box I found a scroll and a key.

I pocketed my treasures throughout the room run down, the post game beer, and the F to the A to the bus, which was late, and then got stuck in tunnel traffic.

As we entered our apartment, I immediately noticed the antique, locked box on the counter. A puzzle box!

David reports that I responded to the presence of this puzzle box with, “Oh gosh! I have to get my key.”

My key fit the lock.

I was certain the puzzle box held a ring… Now I just had to figure out how to open it.

David had left many clues in the box to guide me.

I had to spin the dials to spell my name on clock faces and release the peg. I am David’s Ice Queen (I’m usually unreasonably cold [physically cold, not emotionally]).

It released, and the whole panel lifted out of the box and revealed… Another puzzle.

I had to spin the dials to the number “99” which repeated itself in the scroll and the lock.

It was explicitly designed to occupy both my hands, requiring me to push in two pegs on opposite side of the box.

David then to removed the cover piece and revealed…

… the ring!

I said yes.

Thank you to David’s co-conspirators

• Kelly Snache for designing and building the puzzle box; his work is incredible.
• The folks from themetagrobologist.co.uk for helping David find Kelly.
• Jose Valenzuela for designing the scrolls and receiving, storing, and setting up the puzzle box in our apartment.
• My future mother-in-law Joan Spira for providing her old phone.
• My future father-in-law Marc Spira for making the scroll dowels.
• Jessica Gebauer of Jessica Allison Jewelry for designing and creating the beautiful ring.
• Lindsay Froelich for bringing the jewelry box to Mission Escape Games.
• Derek, Dave, Melissa, and the rest of the Mission Escape Games team for hiding the first clue in the penultimate puzzle of Nemesis.
• Thursday night’s team for a game well played. It would have been really awkward if we didn’t escape.

We look forward to a lifetime of puzzles to solve together.

Update April 5, 2022: If you’re interested in pro tips for designing a personalized adventure like this one, check out our Reality Escape Pod interview with Chris Waters of Constructed Adventures. And to hear how Chris grades David on this proposal, join our Patreon community for access to the bonus episode.